Process for producing 1,3-diols.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUCAS PETRON KYRIAKIDES AND- RICHARD BLAIR EARLE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSA CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO HOOD RUBBER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

CHUSETTS.

PROCESS FOR PRODUCING 1,3-DIOLS.

ll ,094,224. Specification of Letters Patent.

No Drawing.

Application filed December 21, 1912. Serial No. 738,104.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that We, LUCAS P. KYRIAKI- DES and RICHARD B. EARLE, citizens of the United States, residing at Cambridge, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes'for Producing 1,3-Diols, of which the following is a specification.

' Our invention relates to new rocesses for producin 1,3-dihydroxyl bo ies by the electrolytlc reduction of ketone-alcohols. The ketone alcohols are conveniently prepared by the condensation of ketones with formaldehyde by means of alkaline reagents. Our electrolytic reduction is carried. out in acid medium, using lead, nickel, etc., cath- The reaction proceeds according to the following equation:

CH3.QO.CR2.OH2OH+2H= cmcnonoa cn on where R stands for a hydrogen atom or an organic radical.

In order to illustrate the new process more fully the following example is given: The electrolytic apparatus consists of the usual anode and cathode compartments. The anode li uid is a dilute sulfuric acid solution, pre erablya 10% solution. The cathode liquid consists of a 10% ketone-alcohol solution containing enough sulfuric acid to bring the acid concentration to about 10% of the total solution. The anode consists of an passed thro unattackable material or sheet lead. The cathode is made of clean sheet lead or better a hollow lead spiral, through which water is kept running. The liquids in both chambers are kept at about 15 0., the cathode liquid being stirred during electrolysis. The solution is electrolyzed at a potential difference of about 5-6 volts, and a current density of about 4-5 amperes per 100 square centimeters. There is an excess current h the cell to insure complete reduction. T e cathode liquid is neutralized with sodium carbonate, the water evaporated off in cacao atas-low a temperature as possible, and the glycol is fractioned in 'vacuo. In this way the dihydroxyl bodyis obtained in more than 50% yield of the theoretical.

We claim:

1. The process for'producing 1,3-diols by the electrolytic reduction of ketone-alcohols in acid media.

2. The process for producing 1,3-diols by the electrolytic reduction of ketone-alcohols in dilute sulfuric acid solution using lead electrodes.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

LUCAS PETRON KYRIAKIDES. RICHARD BLAIR EARLEL Witnesses: I

M. A. HAGARTY," E. GRACE BROWNE. 

